
ilitary Order 



-»M«- 



of tl?e 



Joyal Jegioij 



of ttje 



-*•- 



United States. 



ii\fmtWMtAf 



COMMANDERY OF TBE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



WAR PAPER 86. 



>H e l^oyal ||) e 9 ior i af ^ *h e B i0i ' W ai 







"*Pw. 




&P.F8S& 



C*^uC&*<f' m 






Military ©rdef of \\}Q bo^/al Ise^ion 






United States. 



dOMMAMDE^Y OF THE DigTtyCT OF COLUMBIA, 



WAR PAPERS. 

86 

HH<* k°y al |^®3'°n a nd the giOil tyjar. 

BY 

Companion 

FRANCIS P. B. SANDS, 

Acting Master, U. S. Navy. 

READ AT THE STATED MEETING OF MARCH 6, 1912. 



PUBLICATION DIRECTED BY THE LITERARY COMMITTEE UNDER AUTHORITY 
OF ORDER OF THE COMMANDERY. 









.2 



3lir iOogal fogtatt attfo tijp (tail liar. 



A few days since, there appeared in a local paper a communica- 
tion from one who declared that the veterans of the Civil War 
were no longer to be considered as useful for any purpose 
connected with the history of those momentous days; that 
their sons were even to be henceforth silent, and to leave to the 
veterans of the Spanish- American War the right of way on all 
official occasions as the only representatives of the fighting 
force of the nation's war veterans. 

Whilst thinking over the possible effect, hereafter, of such 
reckless suggestions made at this time, I recalled a short account 
I had read of an incident which occurred in England, preceding 
the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. It recited that a distinguished 
Japanese nobleman, having been engaged for some months 
studying the military preparedness of the great nations of 
Europe, was being entertained at a house party gathered 
together by one of Great Britain's leading statesmen. 

The Japanese nobleman, having intimated his approaching 
departure for home, one of the guests with a view to drawing 
out his opinions on their Government's grandeur and power, 
was surprised at the frankness of the reply he received. 

The Japanese nobleman, frankly stated that he had been 
sent to observe and report upon the preparedness of the different 
governments for war, to the end that Japan might be fully 
informed and know where to seek an ally in case of trouble 
with Russia. He compared his observations in the several 
nations, and declared that England was the weakest of all 
in its preparedness for war, in respect of the numerical strength 
of its fighting force, and because of the woeful deficiency in 



regard to national loyalty which he had noticed throughout 
England. Exclamations from the hearers at such a statement 
were followed by a criticism of its accuracy, and reference was 
made to England's reserves, who could always be relied upon 
in an emergency. 

The Japanese then reminded his hearers that he had studied 
the characteristics of the English; that he had counted the 
many thousands of idle, unemployed men who thronged the 
highways of the great city of London, who were incapable of 
being utilized as soldiers; that nowhere did he see any thought 
amongst the young men of training for military service ; that it 
was true that when the races at "Epsom" and "the Derby" 
were advertised, every highway was thronged by enthusiastic 
thousands; that during the season when the "cricket games" 
were on, every field of players was surrounded by interested 
gatherings, but he had noticed that when the race winners 
were announced and the last wicket was down the crowds 
dissolved and general apathy prevailed everywhere; that he 
recalled that when the Reserve force mentioned was mobilized 
at the time when there was talk of trouble with Germany 
he had noted that it took over six weeks to get a force together 
of not more than 18,000 men, who proved to be little more 
than raw recruits, totally inadequate to form a line of defense 
against any invasion of England's shores! 

He closed by stating that in his country the children, from 
the moment they began to walk, were taught and impressed 
with the knowledge that the welfare and greatness of Japan 
was to be their main object in life, to the sacrifice of their per- 
sonal comfort, even to the surrender of life itself, at the call of 
their emperor; and such loyalty and devotion being inculcated 
throughout their earlier years their enthusiastic allegiance 
could always be relied upon, with the result that they were 
trained constantly for military duties, and so efficiently, that 



they had a nation of warriors always ready for service, obedient 
to orders whenever the call to arms should be made. 

Whether this statement is historically true or not is imma- 
terial, so far as this paper is concerned. There was food for 
thought, however, in the suggestions, and they justify a brief 
"retrospective glance into futurity." 

We should be able to prove the falsehood of the Spanish 
War veteran's statement. We should teach the world that 
the United States can produce a million soldiers ready to 
spring to the defense of their country at any point that might 
be threatened by any enemy and at any time of danger to 
the public welfare. 

As I pondered over the field of thought which came before 
me, I turned to the pages of the Constitution of the Military 
Order of the Loyal Legion; and, in the third article thereof, 
I read as the purposes and objects of its existence as an 
organization, the following: 

"To cherish the memories and associations of the war 
waged in defense of the unity and indivisibility of the Re- 
public ... to foster the cultivation of military and 
naval science; enforce unqualified allegiance to the General 
Government; protect the rights and liberties of American 
citizenship, and maintain National Honor, Union and 
Independence." 

In those few lines was an answer to all that was stated as 
above, in so far as they are applicable to the citizen soldiery of 
the United States. 

They set forth the obligations of membership in our Order, 
a faithful observance of and regard for which by the members 
of the Loyal Legion will prove that our nation is not wanting 
in any of the elements necessary for the protection of its honor 
and future prosperity. 



The suggestions of the Spanish War veteran are futile and 
absurd. He must be the ungrateful son of a worthy sire or 
there must have been a defect in his father's record! 

That little war of 1 898 was merely required by the dictates of 
humanity, to put an end to the horrors that oppressed a people 
living near our coast-line. Its results were liberty from tyranny 
for Cuba, and the acquisition of a distant territory, never 
desired by our nation, but taken in under the protection of the 
Stars and Stripes as a necessary outcome of Dewey's victory 
at Manila on May 1, 1898. 

This was a result possibly of considerable commercial impor- 
tance and value to some of our people at home, but of more 
vast benefit to the millions who have been raised from savagery 
to the enjoyment of the blessings our country offers to all of 
its citizens! 

We know that an illustration as to the perfection of true 
citizenship and loyalty to the nation was presented by the 
response in 1861 to the call for defenders of the Union; that 
appeal for citizens to rally to the defense of the flag and to 
prevent the attempted disruption of the States! 

The lessons of that war of four years of struggle teach the 
necessity of unfaltering allegiance and devotion to the nation, 
which we bespeak from all citizens when we point to our flag 
as being the shield of all over whom it floats ! 

To the native born and to the alien who is a naturalized 
citizen, the lessons of that war, when kept alive by frequent 
and continuous recitals of its history, will always bear fruit 
in the magnificant growth of that love of our country that will 
necessarily follow. 

In the duty imposed upon us, veterans of that war, of cherish- 
ing the "memories and associations of that war," we find the 
true reason for our monthly gatherings'at headquarters in every 
vState where recitals of personal experiences, of incidents of 



battles, of the excellence of campaign management at the 
various periods of the war wherever the contending armies were 
opposed, awaken thrills of interest in each breast, and make 
each individual cipher of us realize the wonderful results of the 
brilliant leaderships of our great armies by the generals whose 
campaigns, if long drawn out, led to victory at the end and 
ultimate peace for the nation. 

It is fortunate that so many still survive to bear testimony 
to the brilliant victories of that great war. 

To attempt to review the entire record of the Civil War 
would be life-long labor, but, after the manner contemplated by 
that section of our Constitution of reviving individual recollec- 
tions of experiences connected with the service, we at our 
monthly meetings secure most interesting accounts that are 
not touched upon in the official reports, yet are illustrative 
of conditions and circumstances that throw light upon, give 
local color to, and solve many questions about which the his- 
torians of the war otherwise would be in doubt. 

The narratives that are presented at our monthly meetings 
awaken the interest we naturally have in respect of the part 
we took in those memorable days, and being told with utmost 
brevity find attentive audiences, and the stories told bring 
forth other corroborative accounts of other companions, and so 
the interest revived grows and becomes impressed upon the 
hearers and valuable and instructive are the lessons that flow 
from such memories. 

To illustrate my point, the war papers read at our monthly 
meetings lead us to look back with ever-increasing interest 
in the retrospect to those early days when straggling companies 
and regiments of untrained men were being concentrated in 
the east and west to be drilled into perfect military organiza- 
tions, ready for any duty and to meet any trying demands of 
military service. We recall the history of the weary waiting 



8 

in the camps ; of the fatiguing marches under the glaring heat of 
the sun or in the midst of storm to reach the points of danger; 
we are reminded of the thousands suffering in the hospitals; 
of the cries of the wounded in their cots. We almost listen 
again to the scattering shots of the outposts; to the rattle of 
rifle shots as the advanced lines meet the enemy; to the roar of 
cannon, the bursting of shells; and recall the impetus of the 
charging regiments and the beating of our hearts as they march 
to protect the flag ! We recall the emulation between the vari- 
ous armies of the " Potomac, " of the " Cumberland, " and of the 
"Tennessee, " as they sought and fought to record their successes 
in those years of the war. 

We read of the wonderful endurance of the men; of the 
obliteration of State line feelings when the different regiments 
and brigades were amalgamated in the various army corps; 
and we see that such, the great results of their services, could 
only be accounted for by the fact that no matter whether the 
regiments came from Maine or Illinois, from Ohio or Pennsyl- 
vania, there was one common, unanimous heart-beat throughout 
the armies that was responsive to the one call, "Save the honor 
and perpetuity of the Union!" 

When the achievements of General Grant in the west and 
before Richmond are recounted; when the incidents of General 
Sherman's march "from Atlanta to the sea" are told by the 
participants therein; when we are graphically told of Sheridan's 
wild gallop to Winchester "twenty miles away, " when rout was 
turned to victory; when we hear the stirring descriptions of the 
brilliant struggles on the field of Gettysburg, our very souls 
are stirred again and thrilled by the memories of what was 
accomplished by the gallant men who followed those heroes 
to victory! 

When we listen to accounts of the brilliant victories of 
Dupont at Port Royal; of Farragut at Mobile Bay and on the 



Mississippi River; of Porter on the Red River and at Fort 
Fisher; and to the daring combats of Worden in the " Monitor" 
against the "Merrimac;" of Lamson on the Nansemond; of 
Flusser and Cashing in the Sounds of North Carolina, and 
countless lesser adventures, our hearts beat responsive to the 
applause which greets the recitals, and it is inspiriting to note 
the youthful vigor that comes into the assemblage when they 
spontaneously rise and join again and again in singing our 
national hymns, and the songs that were sung by the gallant 
men who fought the battles of that war! Is not love of country 
and devotion to the flag thus taught and perpetuated? 

What a glorious review of historical incidents does not that 
short recital present, and it is our duty to cherish those memories, 
nor for the purpose of self-glorification, however, but to serve 
the purpose of Article III of the Constitution of our Order. 

If that purpose is adhered to loyally the lesson to be taught 
will be fraught with important results for generations yet to 
come. Therefore it is that our Recorder urges upon all com- 
panions to prepare their recollections of war service, when 
they illustrate war incidents of service, and have them read 
at our meetings. 

Particularly do we recommend that those companions who 
belong to the naval service should actively interest themselves 
in fulfilling our obligations to our country as provided in that 
third article of the Constitution of our order; in "fostering the 
cultivation of military and naval science" in order to "protect 
the rights and liberties of American citizenship." 

It should be a most agreeable and congenial task for them, by 
reason of their high professional attainments and up-to-date 
knowledge and experience, to draw most interesting contrasts 
between the Navy and its accomplishments in the Civil War, 
and the Navy of 191 2, and what it is capable of accomplishing 
for the protection and enforcement of the rights of American 
citizens in all the waters of the globe accessible to our vessels. 



IO 



Such papers would attract wide attention; they would not 
only revive delightful memories of the naval heroes of the 
Civil War, but would interest and instruct all who have to act 
officially in guarding our country's interests; they would enlist 
the voices and influence of our fellow-citizens whose votes 
would be obeyed by our legislators, who would thus be brought 
to active advocacy of a greater Navy which, equipped and 
prepared for every national emergency, would be the most 
potent factor leading to universal, international peace — so 
much longed for by the world but which is still manifestly so 
far away in the future. 

Assuredly amongst the large number of our companions 
there are many who have interesting recollections from which 
to draw for our entertainment, and who may be willing to 
recount them in a way that will teach the present and future 
generations what their ancestors did to preserve the Union. 
I know personally some who have recited, in casual conversations 
where I was a listener, incidents occurring in their service that 
illustrated the hardships of their work, which, in spite of ob- 
stacles, were demonstrative of the courage and spirit which 
animated them when they first donned the shoulder straps, 
and showed what could be done when necessity demanded 
prompt action and a devotion to duty. 

Such incidents should now be recalled, and they would teach 
self-reliance and earnest preparation for military service should 
the future present opportunities for action in behalf of the public 
welfare. Doubtless there are many who could write such papers 
and they should do it. 

The sympathies of the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters 
of those who went to the front increased that feeling. They 
had felt all the agonies and heart-wrenchings of those dreadful 
periods during which they awaited the news from the battle- 
field in which their loved ones were offering their lives for their 



II 

beloved country's safety, and all the varying emotions that 
were experienced when the official reports came out telling them 
to rejoice or to grieve as the fate of their dear ones was made 
known. 

They had nursed the sick and wounded, they had comforted 
the widows and the orphans, and they became the mothers of 
generations taught by them to revere and to love the flag 
under which their husbands and fathers had fought. Their 
aid and the assistance of their daughters can ever be relied upon 
by us and our successors in the Loyal Legion in our effort to 
carry out successfully the objects and purposes of our organiza- 
tion. Throughout the length and breath of the land, at count- 
less hearthstones have those fathers and mothers, husbands 
and wives told over and over again the stories of the Civil War. 
Their children in their homes or in their schools have been 
thrilled by the narratives of the experiences in camp life, in the 
marchings and the battles in which their soldier parents had 
participated ! 

Do we not see in these facts the glorious good work accom- 
plished through the existence of our Order? The obligations 
of our Constitution impel every member of the Loyal Legion to 
encourage the present and future generations to cultivate, for 
the protection of our nation's honor and solidarity, the military 
science, wherever such teaching is possible. 

Never so much as at the present time is the aid of our best 
efforts needed to inculcate the doctrine of pure patriotism in the 
breasts of our fellow-countrymen. The noble aspirations 
which carried us victorious through that greatest of modern 
wars and seemed to assure the continued safety of our beloved 
country do not appear to be fostered by many who occupy 
responsible positions in the public eye. 

Doctrines that tend to the destruction of all we have been 
taught to cherish are openly advocated, and find ready followers 



12 



amongst those who have never studied with true and loyal 
interest the history of the struggles of the days of the Revolution 
and of the Civil War. 

The integrity of the Constitution itself is assailed, and with 
insidious craft is the effort made to pull down the structure of 
the Constitutional Government for which we have fought, 
believing it to be, as we have made the world believe, the 
greatest and most perfect form of government ever devised by 
the wisdom of patriotic statesmen for the protection of the 
rights of liberty-loving men. 

We have been taught, and experience confirmed the truth of 
what we have learned that only in the integrity of the Consti- 
tution of the United States was to be found the safety and 
perpetuity of our republican institutions ! 

Upon the continuance, unchanged, of the independence of 
the three co-ordinate branches of our government rests the 
assurance of our liberties. 

Under the Constitution provision is made for effecting any 
change therein that may be required by the needs of our fellow 
citizens. 

We see to-day the demagogue boldly declaring that those 
orderly and lawful methods of procedure, which should be 
followed openly and under the methods which reason and loyalty 
demand, are to be ignored or swept aside; and that by devious 
ways and methods, which only the unworthy would adopt, 
the ignorant, inexperienced and simple-minded are being taught 
that it is proper to set aside first one and then another of the 
restrictions and requirements of the Constitution provided 
for the safeguarding of the welfare of our country, institutions 
and the integrity of the laws. 

Under the Constitution and the laws rightfully construed and 
enforced, the government should be only entrusted to statesmen 
whose known experience, intelligence and wisdom would assure 



13 

a conduct of the affairs of the government in the best interests 
of all; yet it is proposed to destroy the uniformity of decisions 
construing the laws, by substituting therefor the capricious 
demands of uninformed, ill-guided, and oft corruptly misled 
factions, whose votes could be purchased to advance base and 
selfish interests, which would lead to a mass of varying and 
contradictory so-called decisions, which in their consequences 
would lead to anarchy in the people, chaos in the laws, and ulti- 
mate demoralization as to the rights of the people everywhere. 

Under the Constitution every high officer of the government 
takes a solemn oath of loyalty to our Constitutional government. 
A strict observance of such an oath is the only true test of the 
honorable and loyal citizen. Disregard of that Oath is 
Disloyalty to the Government; and when, under the guise 
of a so-called ''progressive" propaganda, the voters are being 
taught underhanded methods whereby to undermine and 
change the provisions of the Constitution, it is the solemn 
duty of loyal men to oppose vigorously all the efforts of those 
who are leading in the unworthy effort. There is the field of en- 
deavor for the survivors of the Civil War, and for their children 
who love their country. 

To provide crusaders in that holy cause is the highest duty 
of companions of the Loyal Legion of the United States, or our 
struggles, sufferings and labors in the Civil War will have been 
in vain! 

From him whose heart does not swell with love of country 
when he recalls the cost of life and blood freely bestowed by 
our ancestors to secure the safety of our land under the aegis 
of our Constitution, all that is great and noble has passed away ! 

And when we see any of our fellow citizens aiming to destroy 
the integrity of the Constitutional provisions for frankly avowed 
self-advantage in the search of power in our land, it is the duty 
of all liberty-loving citizens to proclaim that such doctrines 



14 

are not in accord with the teachings of our fathers, it is fraught 
with danger to the republic and loyalty forbids its existence ! 

This is a grand and important labor upon which our organi- 
zation has been loyally and earnestly engaged since its origin. 

We witness the result of the work of the Loyal Legion in the 
wave of patriotic endeavor that has swept over the land. We 
see it in the public schools and colleges where, as a part of the 
physical training and education of the young men, military 
science has been taught, and the value and importance of dis- 
cipline and drill in armed bodies is impressed upon the student, 
whilst honor to the flag is the climax in every day's order of 
duty! 

The celebrations of national holidays and of the anniver- 
saries of great victories are lessons to the young and to the 
strangers who are onlookers. The organizations of "Boy 
Scouts" are in line with this work, and the young men grow to 
be inured to the fatigues of the soldier's life. 

The reunions of patriotic societies in every great city are 
made the occasions for arousing lively enthusiasm for the 
Government which protects us. Whenever our surviving 
leaders come forward, honors and greetings are showered upon 
them. 

All these things give forcible illustration of the growth of the 
national spirit of devotion to their country's welfare that is 
not merely laudable, but which necessarily will be fruitful 
in creating and perpetuating an ever-increasing army of loyal, 
vigorous, well-trained young soldiers whose existence may be 
recognized by the nations of the world, as being ever ready 
to rally to the defense of the Union from every enemy at home 
or from abroad, so that ere we all pass away we may well realize 
that the foundation has been laid deep and wide and strong 
enough to sustain the superstructure of the Union, however 
grand the future may see it grow to be. 



15 

The eloquent voices of our departed fellow veterans arise 
from every national cemetery throughout the land, telling to 
the living the story of their supreme glory in having offered 
their toilings, their sufferings and their lives for the benefit of 
generations yet to come, who will reap the fruits of their sacrifice 
in the safe enjoyment of liberty under the flag. 

Well may we say with the old Romans: Duke el decorum est 
pro patria moril 

To our sons and successors in membership in this most 
honorable organization, who, we trust, will faithfully perpetuate 
its purposes and objects as set out in its constitution, we may 
safely commit the heritage we leave to them of loyal allegiance 
to our flag and fidelity to the duties that are required by 
American citizenship. 

Just here let us consider the strength of our force yet remain- 
ing to move in this line of action. We have 21 commanderies 
located in 21 States with a membership of 8,293 companions, 
4,553 being survivors of the Civil War. Think of the number 
of active participants in this work of patriotic endeavor. Should 
not each and all co-operate earnestly in the good work? Let it 
be our effort to keep up these evidences of our patriotism, and 
our labors will be fruitful in good results. 

And so the lessons of our Loyal Legion will be ever taught 
through the coming years, and we may well contemplate the 
picture of what the future will present, in the thought that 
when we are gone the pseans of rejoicing will be heard through- 
out the land from legions of loyal men who will lift their voices 
to the Most High and pray as we have done, 

"Wake in our breasts the living fires 
The holy faith that warmed our sires, 
Thy hand hath made our nation free 
To die for her is serving Thee!" 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




